Go to the Father BY Malusi Skunyana
Read Luke 15:17-24
LUKE 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! LUKE 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, LUKE 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. LUKE 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. LUKE 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. LUKE 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put [it] on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on [his] feet: LUKE 15:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill [it]; and let us eat, and be merry: LUKE 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
The parable of the lost son illustrates God’s acceptance of the repenting sinner. God forgives the sinner and totally transforms him into His dear child. Our heavenly Father longs to welcome us into His everlasting arms of love, and to place His seal on our foreheads declaring us His beloved children.
The parable of the lost son may very well be called the parable of the loving father, as it vividly portrays the father’s unconditional love for his undeserving son. This is indeed a powerful image of God’s love for the sinner, and His desire to save and restore him. This is the last of the three parables that Jesus spoke in answer to the Pharisees’ complaint, “This man receives sinners.” The father in the parable had two sons, and the younger son unexpectedly demanded his share of the inheritance. The father granted the unusual request, and gave the younger son what was due to him, and not long after that the younger son left home. He went and lived in a “far country” where he wasted all his possessions until he was finally left with nothing. The young man tried looking for jobs but found nothing except the lowly position of feeding pigs. The young man starved and there was no one to give him something to eat, not even his employer apparently. Then he thought about filling his stomach with the pods that the pigs ate. It is at this point that the lost son came to his senses.
The lost son thought about his father’s servants who had an abundance of bread and never went hungry, and he desired their lot. He realized that he had wronged his father and was not worthy to be called his son. He decided to go and appeal to his father’s benevolent heart, pleading only for the lowly position of a servant. As if the father always expected the son’s return, he saw his son far-off and had compassion, and ran to embrace him. The young man confessed his wrong stating that he was no longer worthy to be called a son. But, apparently, before he could close his confession by requesting the position of a servant, his father interrupted and instructed his servants to make preparations for the welcoming of his son back home. The lost son was clothed in the best robe and a ring was put on his finger to signify his restoration as a son to his father, and there was a big celebration to welcome him. Finally, the lost son was where he belonged; he was home in the presence of his father.
By this parable, Jesus illustrated the acceptance of the repenting sinner by God, and showed that God longs for His children to come back to Him. God invites us to come to Him just as sinful as we are, as He stands ready to forgive us all our transgressions, and to cleanse us from all sin. Our heavenly Father offers to us the gift of salvation full and free, He wants to forgive us all our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Then He will clothe us with the spotless robe of His character and His holiness, and will place a seal on our foreheads declaring us His beloved children.
Dear friend, it does not matter how much you have disappointed God in the past, it does not matter how far away from Him you have wandered, He stands ready to accept you as His child. If you will confess your sins and surrender your life to God, He will forgive you your sins and will cleanse you from all unrighteousness, and then He will give you a new life. Our acceptance with God is guaranteed, He will never turn away anyone who comes to Him trusting in the merits of His only Son Jesus. No matter how hopeless your case may seem, but through faith in Jesus, you may be accepted as a child of the Almighty Father. You may take your case to the Father, you may go before His throne of grace through the merits of Jesus, and there you shall find grace, forgiveness, and acceptance. May God bless you! Amen!
